EVENT REPORT CJI SAUDI CONFERENCE
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA RIYADH
CJI Saudi Conference
Over 200 industry leaders attended CJI’s first conference in Saudi Arabia. This included CEOs, owners and senior management from all the major jet operators and many delegates from across the world.
(L to R): Hamzeh Zaza, Sphere; Yosef Hafiz, NASJET; and Mohamed Albokhari, Aviation Horizons, speaking about competing with international operators inside the Kingdom.
EVENT REPORT • CJI SAUDI CONFERENCE
(L to R): Hamzeh Zaza, Sphere; Yosef Hafiz, NASJET; and Mohamed Albokhari, Aviation Horizons, speaking about competing with international operators inside the Kingdom.
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA RIYADH
CJI Saudi Conference
Over 200 industry leaders attended CJI’s first conference in Saudi Arabia. This included CEOs, owners and senior management from all the major jet operators and many delegates from across the world.
SAUDI ARABIA is without doubt one of the most exciting business jet markets in the world. It is also changing faster than perhaps any other market.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the country’s aviation regulator and Matarat, the state airport company, are working on expanding FBOs, adding seven dedicated business jet airports in the next decade.
Since May this year, foreign operators can now apply for a three-year licence that allows them to operate charter flights in the country. Vista and Flexjet are the first to get approval but other operators are coming. (Vista has already operated almost 50 domestic flights since August).
The new rules are great for passengers and charter brokers in the market. But not necessarily for local operators.
“We’re not against competition,” said one operator. “We were not afraid of it. But we need fair competition. What’s happening now is not fair. As Saudi operators we are bombarded with regulations. If they want the international operators to come in, fine. But then apply the same standards to both of us.”
SAUDI ARABIA is without doubt one of the most exciting business jet markets in the world. It is also changing faster than perhaps any other market.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the country’s aviation regulator and Matarat, the state airport company, are working on expanding FBOs, adding seven dedicated business jet airports in the next decade.
Since May this year, foreign operators can now apply for a three-year licence that allows them to operate charter flights in the country. Vista and Flexjet are the first to get approval but other operators are coming. (Vista has already operated almost 50 domestic flights since August).
The new rules are great for passengers and charter brokers in the market. But not necessarily for local operators.
“We’re not against competition,” said one operator. “We were not afraid of it. But we need fair competition. What’s happening now is not fair. As Saudi operators we are bombarded with regulations. If they want the international operators to come in, fine. But then apply the same standards to both of us.”
⬆ MOCKTAIL RECEPTION
The first night mocktail reception was well attended with delegates enjoying mocktails and non-alcoholic beer.
“For aviation this is an era of rapid expansion and demand growth.”
Khalid Alnatour, Aloula Aviation
⬆ +90 YEARS OF GROWTH
Aloula Aviation began in March 1934 with a single aircraft for aerial mapping. It now has more than 60 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.
⬆ SEE YOU IN 2026
We will be back in Riyadh at the end of 2026. For more details, please email [email protected]
